Knife attack in Kiryat Sefer

Haaretz reports YNET reports:

A Palestinian laborer on Monday morning stabbed three Israelis in the ultra-Orthodox town of Kiryat Sefer, which lies near Modi'in. One of the wounded was reported in serious condition.

Another Israeli was later found wounded after suffering stab wounds at the hands of another Palestinian.

The first Palestinian stabber, who works as an air conditioner technician, attempted to flee following the attack. Armed civilians nearby opened fire, wounding him moderately before taking him into custody [...]

Lakewood - Beis Feige/ (was concert banned)

Hamercaz reports: [forwarded by RaP] Also reported here.

Lakewood, N.J. -- In a surprising, last-minute move, the Roshei Yeshiva and Mashgiach of Lakewood's Beis Medrash Gavoha, the largest Yeshiva in the world outside of Israel, issued a ban of a women's entertainment event that took place in Lakewood's Beis Yaakov High School Sunday night.

The event, entitled "Comedance", was billed as a show illustrating "the journey of life through comedy and dance", and featured women performers singing and dancing in front of an all-female audience. Although the performance met with no opposition when it took place at Boro Park and other venues in prior weeks, that was not the case in Lakewood.

An automated phone call recording reached thousands of Lakewood homes Sunday evening, notifying all household that the Roshei Yeshiva and Mashgiach, R' Kotler, Neuman, Schustal, Olshin and Salomon, had issued a ruling that the performance should not be attended. Ironically, this followed similar automated calls on behalf of the producers of the show that had been placed just hours before, reminding local women and girls to attend the event, which was advertised as a benefit for Tzedaka R' Meir Ba'al HaNes.[...]

Chanuka & Greek Philosophy - Any relationship?

Shabbos (21b): What is [the reason of] Hanukkah? For our Rabbis taught: On the twenty-fifth of Kislew22 [commence] the days of Hanukkah, which are eight on which a lamentation for the dead and fasting are forbidden.23 For when the Greeks entered the Temple, they defiled all the oils therein, and when the Hasmonean dynasty prevailed against and defeated them, they made search and found only one cruse of oil which lay with the seal of the High Priest,24 but which contained sufficient for one day's lighting only; yet a miracle was wrought therein and they lit [the lamp] therewith for eight days. The following year these [days] were appointed a Festival with [the recital of] Hallel25 and thanksgiving.

The gemora directly asks about the nature of Chanukah and answers that Chanukah is to commemorate the miracle of the oil burning in the Temple.

Similarly the Rambam(Hilchos Chanuka 3:1-3):

רמב"ם הלכות מגילה וחנוכה פרק ג

הלכה א

בבית שני כשמלכו יון גזרו גזרות על ישראל ובטלו דתם ולא הניחו אותם לעסוק בתורה ובמצות, ופשטו ידם בממונם ובבנותיהם ונכנסו להיכל ופרצו בו פרצות וטמאו הטהרות, וצר להם לישראל מאד מפניהם ולחצום לחץ גדול עד שריחם עליהם אלהי אבותינו והושיעם מידם והצילם וגברו בני חשמונאי הכהנים הגדולים והרגום והושיעו ישראל מידם והעמידו מלך מן הכהנים וחזרה מלכות לישראל יתר על מאתים שנה עד החורבן השני.

הלכה ב

וכשגברו ישראל על אויביהם ואבדום בחמשה ועשרים בחדש כסלו היה ונכנסו להיכל ולא מצאו שמן טהור במקדש אלא פך אחד ולא היה בו להדליק אלא יום אחד בלבד והדליקו ממנו נרות המערכה שמונה ימים עד שכתשו זיתים והוציאו שמן טהור.

הלכה ג
ומפני זה התקינו חכמים שבאותו הדור שיהיו שמונת הימים האלו שתחלתן מליל חמשה ועשרים בכסלו ימי שמחה והלל ומדליקין בהן הנרות בערב על פתחי הבתים בכל לילה ולילה משמונת הלילות להראות ולגלות הנס, וימים אלו הן הנקראין חנוכה והן אסורין בהספד ותענית כימי הפורים, והדלקת הנרות בהן מצוה מדברי סופרים כקריאת המגילה

The standard sources all indicate that the Syrians were trying to stop Jews from keeping Torah and mitzvos and that Chanukah was commemoration of the tremendous mesiras nefesh the Jews displayed in trying to observe the Torah.

My question - what is the source of the common understanding that Chanukah was a battle against Greek philosophy and secular knowledge?

Response to Gaza attacks at last!

Haaretz reports:

Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip fired at least 54 Qassam and Grad rockets into southern Israel on Saturday after Israeli air strikes killed more than 195 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Palestinian sources.

A home in the town of Netivot was hit by a grad missile, killing one and leaving four with moderate to serious injuries.

One rocket struck just outside Kiryat Gat, some 20 kilometers from Gaza. The strike marked the first time in the eight years since Hamas has been firing rockets into Israel that a rocket has struck the southern Israeli city. [...]

Abuse - no prohibiton against revenge

Yoma (23a): R’ Yochanon said in the name of R’ Shimon ben Yehotzadak: “Any talmid chachom who does not avenge himself and bear a grudge like a serpent is not a real talmid chachom.” But how could that be since there is a Torah prohibition against revenge and bearing grudge (Vayikra 19:18)? That is only applicable to monetary issues. This has been taught in a braissa: “What is revenge and what is bearing a grudge? An example of revenge is when someone asks to borrow a sickle and is refused. The next day when the one who was refused is asked by the same person if he can borrow an axe and is told that he won’t lend it since the other didn’t lend him his sickle. An example of bearing a grudge is if someone asked to borrow his ax and was told no. The next day the one who refused to lend asks the other person to lend him his garment. He lends him the garment but adds – “I am not like you who didn’t lend me what I asked for.” But doesn’t this Torah prohibition also apply to personal insult? Hasn’t it been taught concerning those who are insulted but do not reciprocate by insulting, those who hear degrading comments without replying, who do good deeds out of love for G‑d and rejoice in their suffering – that the Bible (Shoftim 5:31): But they that love Him be as the sun when it goes forth in his might. That means simply that he doesn’t express his feelings but nevertheless bears a grudge in his heart. But Rava has said that he who does not retaliate against others has all his sins passed over! That is referring only to the case where the perpetrator has asked for forgiveness and has been in fact forgiven.

יומא (כג.): ואמר רבי יוחנן משום רבי שמעון בן יהוצדק: כל תלמיד חכם שאינו נוקם ונוטר כנחש - אינו תלמיד חכם. - והכתיב לא תקם ולא תטר! - ההוא בממון הוא דכתיב. דתניא: איזו היא נקימה ואיזו היא נטירה? נקימה, אמר לו: השאילני מגלך, - אמר לו: לאו. למחר אמר לו הוא: השאילני קרדומך! - אמר לו: איני משאילך, כדרך שלא השאלתני - זו היא נקימה. ואיזו היא נטירה? אמר לו: השאילני קרדומך! - אמר ליה: לא. למחר אמר לו: השאילני חלוקך! - אמר לו: הילך, איני כמותך, שלא השאלתני - זו היא נטירה. - וצערא דגופא לא? והא תניא: הנעלבין ואינן עולבין, שומעין חרפתן ואינן משיבין, עושין מאהבה ושמחין ביסורין - עליהן הכתוב אומר (שופטים ה:לא) ואהביו כצאת השמש בגברתו! - לעולם דנקיט ליה בליביה. - והאמר רבא: כל המעביר על מדותיו - מעבירין לו על כל פשעיו! - דמפייסו ליה ומפייס.